Refrigerator-car.



No. 699,260. Patented May B, |902. 1|. B. 'UNDERWII REFRIGEIMTDR CAB.

(Application med my w, m01.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W/ TNE SSE S /N VE N TOR Arron/VWSA TH: mams Prrzns co., PHoYoLlTuo..wAsHws'roN, u. c.,

No. 699,260. Ptented May 6, |902. J. B. UNDERWDD;

REFRIGEBATUR CAB.

(Application led my 15, 1901.)

3'sheetssheet 2..

(No Model.)

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No. 699,260. l Patented May 6, |902. J.`B. UNDERWOD. BE'FB-IGEBATOR CAR.

(Application led my 15, 1901.)

a sheetsi-sheet 3,

(No Model.)

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YUNITED STATES` "PATENT" OFFICE.

l JOSEPHl B. UNDERWOOD, OF FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

,. REI-'mesRAToR-C-AR.

SPECIFICATION forming part-.of flletters '.Patent No. 599,260, datedMay', 1902. Applica'nmfned May 15.1901. serial 110.60340. (No ms.)

F0 ctlliwhom t lita/y concern:

Be itknown that LJosEPH B. `UNM?.Rvvoon, residingat Fayetteville, in thecountyof Oumberland and State of North Carolina, have invented a newand,ImprovedRefrigerator-Car, of which the'following is'aspecification.

My invention comprehends in its generic nature a novel construction andarrangement of automatically-operatiug means fordisseminating a coolingagent 'over the external surface of the car, whereby to produce auniform cold-storage; andthe said'means includes a medium contained inan absorbent which Qby contact with outer walls of sheet metal producescold air on tthe inner side of saidwalls in such manner'as to maintainan approxi# mately uniform refrigerating temperature within the car.

This invention in its more complete form includes means for maintaininga cooling agent over the external surface of the carbody by capillaryattraction adapted to cooperate withan air-current-deector means forcreating a quick assimilation and evaporation of the cooling agent.

Again, this invention comprehends the employment of an agentdisseminable over the outer surface of the Icar-body of aiireproofcharacter, and supplemental means combined therewith for deiectingsparksthatjmayfly against the car-loody.l

Another and essential feature of my invention lies in apnovelcorrelation of a water-carrier on the car, an absorbent automatically'ied therefrom landV arranged to disseminate the fluid over the externalsurface of the car, a protecting-screen over said absorbent, andair-deflecting devices for causinga quick absorption and evaporation ofthe cooling agent.

This invention also includes a special external construction of thecar-body in connection with end openings and adjustable closurel membersfor the said openings, whereby under certain conditions air or icemay befed into the interior of the car to eect either a proper ventilation forthe interior of the car or the reception of an artificial cooling means(ice) for refrigerating articles, such'as meats.

In its more subordinate features myinven-v tions consists in a number ofno vel structural combinations and detailed arrangement of parts, all ofwhich will hereinafter be fully explained, and particularly pointed outin the -appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, `iin which- Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of arefrigerator-car constructed in accord- .ance with my invention. Fig. 2is a crosssection thereof on the line2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detailplan view of one end of the same. Fig. 4 isanend elevation of the car,the adjustable door being shown as closed air-tight.

Fig. 5 isa horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, the doorbeing shown closed airtight. Fig. 6 is a similar viewthe door beingshown in full lines adjusted to admit air and in dotted lines to uncoverthe opening for the entranceof ice to the upper or ice-re` ceivingcompartment of'the car. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing thel air-'valvefor the fiuid pipe or valley on thetop of the car.-V Fig. 8 isacross-section of oneside of the car on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4l. Fig. 9is a diagram showing how two of the liquid-holders on two coupled carsare joined. Fig. l0 illustrates my invention vas arranged for coolingpassengercars. Fig. ll is adetail view hereinafter specilically referredto, and Fig. 1 2 is a viewillustrating a strap device for securing theliquidholder. 1

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals;indicate like .parts in all the figures, l designates the car, which hasthe ordinary generalgshape, its sides and top being formed of sheetmetal, while the bottom is of wood andl its endsv of wood and metalcombined, they reason for which will presently appear. ,As is best shownin Fig. 2, the interior of the car has an upper compartment 2 and alower compartment 3, the two being divided by a metalhorizontallydisposed partition 4, the sides and ends of which do notextend entirely out to the sides and ends of the car, but discharge intothe end and side air-spaces 5 5f, in communication with each other andwith the interior of the .car-compartment 3, said spaces being providedfor by the supplement metal sides 6 and ends 6a, as shown, the lowerends of which are made fast to the car-bottom lin any approved manner,While their upper ends are held secure in their upright position by thestrapbrackets 7, that support the horizontal partition 4. By providingan upper compartment,

IOO

as shown, and making the bottom 4 slightly inclined toward the sides andends to lead off condensation an increased cooling-surface isproduced,aswellasanair-space,above the bottom or main compartment, whichnotonly provides for an effectual maintenance of the low temperaturewithin the bottom compartment by reason of a fresh-air-circulation spaceunder the top or dome of the car, but said upper compartment alsoprovides ample space for storage of ice when it is found desirable vtousc it, the ends of the car being provided with openings S S, over whichoperate sliding doors 9, adapted to be manipulated from the outside, theends of the car having platforms lO for the trainman to stand on whileshifting the doors 9. The doors 9 have air-inlets adapted when the dooris adjusted to onevposition to register with air-passages 9L in the door. \Vhen entirely shut and properly adjusted, the door acts as anair-tight closure for the top compartment of the car, and when entirelypulled out sufficient entrants in the upper part ofthe car are providedfor the insertion of large ice blocks.

1S designates a valley on th'e crown of the car-top, which extends thefull length of the car and is made by bending the metallic top down intoa U shape, to receive a water-holding tube 19, which is held in placewithin the trouglrby the screen-wire covering, presently again referredto, or by strap members, as shown in Fig. 12. At one end the holder 19has a filling-funnel 19, having a throw-back cap 19b and ahose-receiving nozzle 19C, said parts being soarranged that the holdercan be filled by pouring direct into funnel or by pipe-line adapted tobe attached to the receiving-nozzle 19C, and to provide for quickly andeffectively filling the holder it is equipped with an air or vent valve15.

To provide for joining two or more of my l refrigerating-cars, each endof the holder 19 has a valved coupling member 19I to receiveafiexiblecoupling-pipell. (SeeFig.9.) Thus the holders on all the carscoupled together can be filled from one end of one of the holders, andto prevent water being thrown back sorbent material, preferably hairfelt, which covers the entire surface of the top, sides, and ends ot thecar-body, and at the top it also passes over the valley I8 between thecar-top and the water-holder i9, the latter having a number ofdischarge'outlets 19 in its bottom, through which the water escapes tothe felt body 13 and the U-shaped valley, from which it is distributedby capillary attraction through the felt covering.

So far as described, it will be readily understood that as the feltcovering 13 is in contact with the entire outer surface of the metalliccar-body the same forms aporousjacket which will constantlyautomatically evaporate the water contained in the holder 19 forchilling the metal sides, ends, and top of the car-body. Thus both theupper and lower car-compartments are turned into a chillroom, the lowerone, 3, which is intended to receive the most perishable articles,receiving, as it were, a second chill action by reason of thechill-space 2 above it., which defiects the heat that may in very hotclimates radiate from the roof of the car, as well as receiving thebenefits of the artificial cooling of said upper compartment in case iceis used and also the benefits of an additional cooling effected on theinside walls G by the ice drippings from the upper compartment down intothe space 5. Furthermore, by providing thc upper compartment 2 withadjustable doors arranged to be set to admit of circulation of air,especially under the top of the car and within the lowerchillcompartment,it follows that the entire interior of the carcanatsuch times as may be desirable he ventilated by pure atmospheric airto avoid the accumulation of dead air.

In the practical application ot' my invention I prefer to usehair-feltcd cloth about one-half inch thick, as it will carry a largeamount of water, and to render the cloth covering 13 fireproo it issaturated with IOO chlord of sodium, which is conveniently done byadding a desired quantity of such material in the water-holder 19 at thefirst filling of water, which being once absorbed by the cloth will notreadily evaporate, but constantly remain an adherent part thereof; Tofurther render the covering y13 fireproof and to also serve as mediumfor holding the cloth in proper contact with the car-surfaces, a

`wire-screen covering 15 is used on the sides IIO IZO

desired, the outside of the wooden car ends may have a metal sheathing,as shown.

The spaces 5 have discharge-outlets 16 in the bottom provided with waterseals t-o prevent the ingress of air through the car-bottom, and in thepractical construction of' my car the bottom is also metal sheath on afelt base, as shown.

The sides of the car have the usual doors, which in the present case areshown as hinged to swing in a horizontal plane, and at the door-openingsthe spaces 5 stop and do not communicate with said openings. The doors vbeing held tight by metal plates 16V, as shown.' By arranging thecooling agent in the man,-

ner showna'nd described 'aud'providing'the circulating-spaces 5L on thcinside it is manifest a simple and effectively-operatin g means isprovided for maintaininga proper and uniform ch'ill within thecompartment 3 Without danger of the condensations on the inside of`.said compartments coming into contact with sations of the top andsides pass down into the spaces 5 5 and discharge through the bottom ofthe car, maintaining, as itwere,'with in the compartment 3 a'dry coldair the teinperature of which can be readily maintained about a uniform'degree' and always above that-of freezing the contents of the car,especially fruit. Furthermore,by reason of keepy ing the moisture fromcontact with the goods vand providing for Ventilating the interior ofthe' car, when desired,the Well-known deleterious effects of dead air onthe stored' goods is overcome. v

To assist in maintaininga rapid and uniform dissemination ofthecooling'agent, air-- spaces extending the full length kof the car areprovided. These spaces overlie the top and sides of the car and areindicated by 20.

The top space is produced by the metal hood' circulation in the spaces30.

While I prefer to use a solid hood for the top of the car, said'hood maybe dispensed with and the deflector-cleats 3l, such as are usedfor thesides, may be substituted therefor, as indicated'in dotted lines in Fig.2.

By providing air-spaces over the coolingagent-disseminating means thewater frouithe trough is assimilated'quickly and uniformly, andevaporation correspondingly rkept up. The Walls over which the coolingagent passes are thoroughlychilled and maintained in this condition solong as the felt covering takes up the iiuid from holder'l9, it beingunderstood that the rapid circulation of air tends to keep therefrigerant in itself cool, and thereby in- 1 creases its chillingqualities.

From 'the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is thought the complete operation' and adlvantages of my invention will be readily understood.

To maintain the refrigerating action, it is only necessary at times toresupply the holders 19, which can-be` readily done atthe'engine-supplying tanks.

Insteadfof securing the'supply pipe or res'- crvoir by the wirecovering'alone'the same may be held secured by straps, as shown'inV Fig.12,.0r any other suitable'ineans.

" While myimprove'mentis more 'especially f adapted forrefrigerator-cars,- the asa'me may be readilyapplied for coolingpassenger-cars, Iand Vwhen'thus applied'the' upper part ofthe vsidesofthe car, as also the top, are prefer- 'ably of' metal,asfindicatedbylx4 in Fig. 10,

r'and a valleyarrauged at' each side of'the crown or Ventilating topportion of the car;

I Y l f'lhe air-spaces 5 in this' latter application the goods heldtherein, as all of the conden-.

need extend only aslow as the metal poras in the other forms illus-*tions of the car extend, as shown, itbeing, hov'veverfmanifest that"said spaces y,may exervoir held. within a valley or trough and runningthe absorbent or feltbody'under the ,reservoir the liquid can neverzbeheld above the points indicated by M M inthedrawings,

and gravitation it becomes thoroughly disseminated over the entireabsorbing material,- to which the cooling 'agent is automatplace;Changes in the detailed arrangement of the `several parts ormodifications thereof may be made without departing from the' scopeofthe appended claims. For example, themetallic or other framing andbracing may be I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patl.Inarefrigerating-car havingachill-compartment surrounded by metal Walls,a second set of metal Walls surrounding the first set of Walls, saidsecond setof Walls forming the outer Walls of the car, a means forVdisseminating a cooling agent over the youter surface of the said secondmetal Walls, and a lsu pply-tank carried'on the car and forming acoperaiive part of said disseminating means, Aas specified.

2. A refrigerating-car, having-a chill-compartment, whose side, endandtop walls are of metal, means for'disseminatinga cooling agent oveltheouter surface ofi-said Walls, said means including a cooling-agentreser- Y voir,'a second chill-compartment disposed abovethe othercompartment and in communication therewith,.mechanism for ventilatingand'sealing the chilled" compartments, said secondchill-compartmenthavingdoorways,'for thepurposes setforth. i

3. The co'mbinationin'a refrigerator.- car `'provided With'metallic topand sides, having means for disseminating a coolingagent over icallysupplied as fast as evaporation takes IOO IIO

the outer surface; of a lower chill-compartment, and an upperchill-compartment, communicating with the other compartment, said uppercompartment having an end opening and air-inlets, a closure membersldable over said opening, and adapted to close 0H the openingair-tight, and having air-openings, adapted when said closure member isadjusted in one direction to register with the airopenings in the end ofthe upper chill-compartment for Ventilating the interior of the car, asspecified.

4. The combination in a metallic-sides refrigerator-car, havinga meansfor disseminating a cooling agent over the outer surface of the metallicbody; of a lower chill-compartment surrounded by supplemental side andend walls, inside the nregular sides and ends, wherebyintervening spaces5 5 are provided, olftakes for discharging the condensatious collectedin said spaces 5 5, a second chilled compartment above the other, ahorizontal metal surface separating the two compartments, the sides andends of which extend over and discharge into the spaces 5 5, saidchilled compartments having doorways, for the purposes specified.

5. A metal-body refrigerator-car, having a .valley extending lengthwisein the top thereof, an absorbent material covering the outer surface ofthe metal body and the valley-surface, and a reservoir held in theValley, said reservoir having outlets for feeding the contents onto thevalley beneath it, for the purposes specified.

6. In a refrigerator-car, provided with metallic top and sides, anabsorbent covering for the sides and top thereof, said covering lying incontact with the said sides and top, and having the outer surfaceexposed to atmosphere, means carried in the car for feeding theabsorbent covering, and a screen covering the outer face of theabsorbent, as specified.

7. In a refrigerator-car, provided with metallic top and sides, anabsorbent covering for the sides and top thereof, said covering lying incontact with the metal parts and having the outer face exposed to air,and spark-deector devices held over the said outer face of the absorbentcovering, for the purposes described.

8. Arefrigerating-car, havingasupplemental or second top, a feltcovering resting on said second top, and an ice-chamber or coolingspace,disposed between the main freight or carrying compartment, and thefelt-covered top.

9. The combination in a car of the character described, with the sideand end walls; of the supplemental side and end walls G 6, respectively,held apart from the regular side land end Walls, whereby interveningspaces 5 5 are provided, the end walls G,having 'apertures anddeflector-cleats on the inner sides overhanging the said apertures, allbeing arranged substantially as shown and described.

JOSEPH B. UNDERWOOD. Witnesses:

G. G. MYRovER, Il. J. MARSH.

